HC Deb 01 April 2003 vol 402 cc618-9W
Dr. Francis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of 16 to 17-year-olds are studying for an(a) academic and (b) vocational qualification in (i) further education colleges, (ii) sixth form colleges, (iii) schools and (iv) other training providers. [103984]

Margaret Hodge

The percentage of 16, 17 and 16 and 17-year-olds participating in full-time education by type of qualification being studied and by institution type for end 2001 are set out as follows. The figures are provisional.

Percentage
16 year olds 17 year olds 16 and 17 year olds
Schools1
General2 27.2 23.5 25.4
Vocational3 6.7 4.0 5.4
Sixth Form Colleges
General2 7.3 6.0 6.6
Vocational3 2.5 1.8 2.1
General FE Colleges
General2 6.0 4.9 5.5
Vocational3 20.7 17.1 18.9
Higher Education Institutions
General2 0.4 0.2
Vocational3 0.3 0.3 0.3
Total in full-time education4 71.2 58.4 64.9
Government supported training5 7.0 9.4 8.1
1 Includes maintained and independent schools.
2 Academic qualification breakdown is made up of students studying HE courses, GCE A/AS/A2 levels, International Baccalaureate and GCSEs

3 Vocational qualification breakdown is made up of students studying VCE A/AS levels, NVQs, GNVQs, and other equivalents (e.g. City & Guilds).

4 Includes special schools for whom no qualification breakdown is available.

5 All vocational qualifications, includes overlap with full-time education.

A qualification breakdown for those in part-time education is not available.

A more detailed breakdown by course of study can be found in the annual statistical

first release, 'Participation in Education, Training and Employment by 16 to 18-year-olds in England'.